If you’re looking for a structured way to practice critical close reading skills in a hands-on and interactive way, this is the activity for you! Have students preview literary criticism articles, read thematically-connected poetry, engage in close reading of a complex fiction or nonfiction text, and engage in small group discussion. These are just some of the possibilities!
I use this close reading activity to have students select literary criticism articles for their analysis essay. There are seven different progressive dinner™ stations, each with an excerpt from a different literary criticism article. Students rotate from station-to-station, taking notes on a paper plate and rating each text. Before leaving for the day, they reflect on what they learned and let me know which criticism article they would like to focus on for their essay.
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Here’s what you’ll receive in this resource:
★Directions and Pacing Slideshow, Google Slides & PowerPoint Versions (one for use with paper plate handouts and one for use with actual paper plates)
(6 Slides x Two Versions) so that you’re able to give students clear expectations for this activity and keep pace along the way. Feel free to customize directions and swap out timers for your own classroom use.
★Pre-Made Dinner Menus (3 Pages), one for poetry, one for nonfiction, and one for fiction, provide a bank of reading strategies for each type of text, suggested discussion questions and creative writing extensions.
★Customizable Dinner Menus (3 Slides) so that you’re able to think of your own ways to use this resource and create menus to suit your tastes.
Enter your own title, headings, and directions in pre-entered text boxes.
★Dinner Plate Handouts (4 Pages) so that you don’t have to purchase/use paper plates. Handouts accommodate space for student notes about 2, 4, or 8 different texts.
★ Product Links & Teacher Notes (5 Pages) so that you have instructions and tips for using this assignment with students at your fingertips.
★ Digital “Getting Started” Page (1 Page) so that you’re able to swiftly make your own copy of each digital product.
★Texts are not included in this resource. Teachers will need to provide the texts, paper plates, and set-up for the progressive dinner™.
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This resource is helpful for:
★ Teachers who want maximum engagement in a student-led classroom.
★ Teachers who are looking to save time with ready-made resources.
★ Teachers who love to innovate and try new things!
